• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

clunk in front end when turning wheel side to side

R

ronaldgtp

New member
Hi have 2001 grandprix gtp have a new rack 6 months old, also new intermediate shaft.car steers fine when driving no clunk. But when back in up or parking get a clunk. Also new link kit and bushing for sway bar. Have original sway bar.
Feel like it is coming from the rack could the rack clunk on under load at parking when you turn the wheel from side to side .jack the car up no noise. Thank Ron
 


post a vid if you can. could be a bunch of things, the down pipe hitting the sway bar, the lower control arms, sway bar end links, axle, bad hub, strut mount. you really need to lay your hands on all of these items.
 
How many miles? Could be motor mounts too. I've driven a car that whenever you put it in reverse, you could feel a clunk and the engine sliding back about 2 inches, then when back in drive same thing back the other way.

It was pretty obvious though. Hydraulic fluid everywhere, and nothing left of the mount
ojal.jpg

s9bv.jpg
 
i see we are in the same shot motor mount club. mine never clunked, but the engine sure did slide and twist in the bay.

motormount2.jpg
 
Yours looks a little worse ^

To the OP, to me it sounds the most like is could be the intermediate shaft, but you mentioned it's new. I'd say have someone replicate the noise and try to get under it a little and see if you can find the noise.
 
mine was strut mounts. Its not a clunk as much as it is clicking and popping from the springs sliding on the plastic bearings that were locked up.
 


Mine do the same, but I don't notice it over the engine noise. And they make the noise when it's in the air.
 
ronaldgtp said:
Hi have 2001 grandprix gtp have a new rack 6 months old, also new intermediate shaft.car steers fine when driving no clunk. But when back in up or parking get a clunk. Also new link kit and bushing for sway bar. Have original sway bar.
Feel like it is coming from the rack could the rack clunk on under load at parking when you turn the wheel from side to side .jack the car up no noise. Thank Ron
Click to expand...

I have a 08 grand prix and have experienced what you are describing when stopped; quickly turning the wheel back and forth creates an audible clunk inside and outside the car that can be felt most strongly on the wheel/tire and steering wheel.

The answer I most agreed with from 1 of 2 shops I brought it to was a worn steering rack bushing. Not sure if this is even a real part but the shop and I decided the best solution for now was to stop shimmying the wheel when stopped :th_biggrin2:



Given you have a new rack, I'm not sure what to think...
 
No such thing lol.

I say it's the intermediate steering shaft if you only hear it when the vehicle is not moving, and you can feel it in the steering wheel. That or the rack. The only other possibility is the tie rods, and you can test that by jacking it up and pulling on the wheels left and right, and from the top and bottom.
 
there is a bushing, its in the hole where it bolts to the sub frame. if you put your hand on the rack, have someone rock the wheel, while you feel for the clunk or feel it move.
 


When it’s raining out there is no clunk ,so it must be a mount. What is the difference between rear regal sub frame mount and the grandprix.because dorman make the regal rear # 924-045 and dorman says the front is the same. Thanks for the help Ron.
 
where the mount bolts go to mount it to the frame is a rubber bushing with a metal sleeve for the bolt to go through. aka bushing.

in this pic you can see it on the right mount. now thats a bushing right? thought so lol

3526_long_buick_regal_magnasteer_rack_and_pinion_picture.jpg
 
thanks put a crow bar under the rack it did not move.only make the clunk when the car is on the ground .whenit is jack up no noise.
so it is hard to check.
 


it is in the rack a cardone rack just a year old .when new adjusted the pinion nut because rack was loose.should i adjust the nut again
make it tighter or looser.or just leave it alone untill it get worse.still drive fine just clunks some time when parking.
 
drained the power steering fluid and filled it will Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak and know no noise. See how long it last
 
Did you ever find out what the problem was ronaldgtp?

I'm still experiencing the low speed and stopped clunk when shimmying the wheel. However, now it happens over low speed bumps when turning.

Thanks!
 
This thread was helpful. Got a new Grand Prix so back at it again. This one had a bent end link and after fixing that still was floating feeling sometimes and clunk under load. Finally was able to tighten the site without the bushing as it was loose and the other side which was already right a little tighter but under load on the ground it would move on that side. I now can see there is a bushing that there I need to now replace to fix the clunking. Thanks much for this thread and the picture ScottyDogs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top